Our Team

Micah Tajiri was class valedictorian of Waiakea High School’s c/o 2024. Throughout high school, he served as the President of the Waiakea Technology Learning Center, project manager for Nextech Hawaii’s 3D printing program, 3D Printer Technician for the Institute for Astronomy, and other roles in various in-school and out-of-school organizations. These involvements earned him the 2024 Na Koa Po’okela Award. Micah is now studying mechanical engineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa as a 2024 UH Regents Scholar.

Resilient, well-connected, and overall exceptional in his work, Connor Gonzalez was the class salutatorian of Kamehameha Schools Hawaii’s c/o 2024. Connor worked tirelessly in high school to support his school and local community as a four-year class officer, earning him the  2024 Po’o Kula Award. He is now double majoring in Data Science & Computer Science at Northwestern University. Connor is also a part of Northwestern’s BajaSAE Team and STARS Network Program.

Bransen “Space Man” Hatakenaka was one of 16 valedictorians in Hilo High School’s c/o 2024 and an outstanding leader in his community. His involvement in the High School Student Government and the Hawaii State Student Council earned him various school and state positions including Chairperson of the Hawaii State Student Council. His exceptional leadership earned him the 2024 Honor Pin Award Recipient  and the 2024 State Top Citizen Scholar Award. He is now pursuing his dreams as an astronautical engineering major at the University of Southern California and is a member of USC’s Rocket Propulsion Laboratory.

Louis Perroy is an outstanding senior in Waiakea High School’s c/o 2025. His involvement as the National Honor Society President, a Waiakea Engineering Pathway Ambassador, a lead electrical engineer for his FIRST robotics team, and a programmer for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility has demonstrated his profound passion and commitment to STEM. Louis has been named a National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist and Coca-Cola Scholar Semi-Finalist. Louis is excited about the future and makes the most of everything leading up to it.

Rylan Colbert is currently the top-ranked student in Waiakea High School’s c/o 2025. As the President of the Waiakea Technology Learning Center, the Founder & Project Manager of Nextech Hawaii’s Drones Program, and the Project Manager of Nextech Hawaii’s 3D Printing Program, Rylan has impacted hundreds of students across Hawaii Island with his STEM inspiration/education efforts. Rylan has also shown promise in his scientific research in the past, excelling at state and international levels with his projects.

Benjamin Tang is a senior in Parker School’s c/o 2025 and a National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist. He is Co-President of Parker’s Investment Club and a Business Development Intern at Neural X — an innovative AI startup. As the Systems Automation Architect for Hatch Blue, Ben helped to automate the company’s recruitment process and analyze startups for a global venture capital firm. Ben’s community service efforts include teaching English to underserved Chinese migrant children and developing a financial literacy curriculum that has impacted more than 5,000 students.

Azalea Thorp is no stranger to winning. As a junior in Kealakehe High School’s c/o 2026, Azalea has been awarded numerous state and national-level championships. She was the 1st Place National Winner for CTE Momentum: Your Place in Space competition, 1st Place State Winner for the World Quest Competition, and 1st Place in the Research: National High School Model United Nations Competition. Azalea is also the lead electrical/manufacturing engineer for her school’s MATE ROV competition team.